"I would like to respond but clowns can't talk," Dunleavy said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "So I'll mime or make him some animal balloons or something. Oh, man. That's the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black. Honestly, I've never been called that before. I guess there's a first time for everything."

The Cousins/Dunleavy bad blood dates back to last March, when Cousins was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected for elbowing Dunleavy, then with the Bucks, in the back of the head. Cousins and Dunleavy were also assessed double technical fouls prior to Cousins’ ejection, after Dunleavy appeared to undercut Cousins as he battled for position on a Marcus Thornton drive. Cousins later told reporters he felt Dunleavy's action was intentional.

The fourth-year center's straightforward assessments have extended beyond the court too. He told Sacramento media members following his team's 2013-14 season opener that the Kings "felt like an AAU team" when they were owned by the Maloof family.

Cousins now leads the NBA in technical fouls this season with 12. He also led the NBA in technical fouls with 17 last year, and he's ranked in the top-five in technicals every season since he was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft.

Sacramento claimed an easy victory on Monday by holding Chicago to just 13 fourth-quarter points and 28.2 percent shooting for the game.

Cousins finished with a game-high 25 points (on 8-for-15 shooting), 16 rebounds and four assists in his first game back after missing time with an ankle injury. Isaiah Thomas added 19 points (on 7-for-9 shooting), three rebounds and three assists for the Kings.

Jimmy Butler led Chicago with a team-high 17 points (on 4-for-11 shooting), five rebounds and three steals.

Sacramento improved to 16-32 with the win. Chicago dropped to 23-24 with the loss.